The Exhibitor (1950)

ONE midwest circuit started oft its “Movies Are Better Than Ever” drive on a full stomach, treating its employes to break¬ fast at the inaugural meeting. ★ A TITLE CHANGE on the coast makes “Cost Of Loving” out of “Cost Of Living,” which won’t mean anything to the exhibi¬ tor until he finds out the picture’s cost to him. ★ TITLE of “The Two Million Dollar Rob¬ bery” has been changed to “The Big Stickup,” which is probably cutting it down to size. ★ A WESTERN EXHIBITOR, just married, gave his patrons a free evening show as a wedding present. On the hill was a short called “The Newlyweds.” ★ SPAGHETTI has become a successful drivein concessions item in an eastern openairer. ★ IT was had enough that men picketing a drive-in were beaten up, hut rubbing their faces with poison ivy was overdoing it. ★ PATRONS sleeping in one midwestern the¬ atre are told by a whispering attendant, “Wake up or you’ll miss the show.” ★ A NEW drive-in in the midwest features caviar sandwiches on its menu in its con¬ cessions division. ★ AN alert drive-in manager spotted a former employe among the patrons who drove in one evening, and accused him of having stolen money while working for him. After the police arrived, it turned out that the car in which the former employe was sit¬ ting was a stolen car. — H. M. M. INDEX Vol. 44, No. 9 July 5, 1950 Section One Editorial . 3 Feature Article — “The Bond Drive Comes To An End” . 5, 6 In The Newsreels . 10 People . 10 Release Date Guide Inside Back Cover Scoreboard . 9 Trade Screenings . 9 Extra Profits . EP-1 — EP-8 Section Two Reviews . SS-1— SS-8 ON THE COVER Samuel Pinanski, national chairman, motion pic¬ ture industry committee, U. S. Savings Bonds Independence Drive, examines the campaign's pressbook, prepared for the U. S. Treasury De¬ partment, and distributed across the nation. The Fun Is All Gone While the principal topic of conversation within the industry these days seems to he business or the lack of it, a few of the remaining oldtimers have become cpiite concerned with yet another pit ase, the lessening of cordiality, at least in some areas. As one tradester put it, “The fun is going out of our business.” There used to he a time in many exchange centers when, along with the hard work which is part and parcel of the daily schedule, there were testimonials, luncheons, and get-togethers, apart from those sponsored by recognized trade fraternal organizations. Just to show how times have changed, in one large exchange center there hasn’t been a testimonial given for anyone for several years, and the last few which were held were utterly lacking in conviviality or real spirit. The question arises: Has the feeling between distributor and exhibitor become so embittered by the combination of bad business and rising film prices that no longer is a comradarie able to exist? The motion picture business has always been an exacting one. Even when times were good, the trade always had its share of ulcer cases, and now that the going has become tough the necessary friendly feeling between distributor and exhibitor seems to he disappearing. On the other hand, this may he only temporary, but those who make a study of trends feel that it is a permanent condition. Things have tightened up too much, these observers say, for the good old days to return. True, in an emergency, everyone works together. One by one, the old timers, the colorful fellows who started in the field, are passing from the scene. In their stead are coming exhibitors and distributors who aren’t aware of what nice times we used to have. Perhaps it had to get this way, hut it sure isn’t as pleasant. A JAY EMANUEL PUBLICATION. Founded in 1918. Published weekly by Jay Emanuel Publica¬ tions, Incorporated. Publishing office: 1225 Vine Street, Philadelphia 7, Pennsylvania. New York office: 1600 Broadway, New York 19. West Coast Representative: Paul Manning, 923 Alandele Avenue, Los Angeles 36, California. Jay Emanuel, publisher; Paul J. Greenhalgh, busi¬ ness manager; Herbert M. Miller, editor; James A. Dalton, advertising manager; Max Cades, production manager; Marguerite Gibson, circulation manager; George F. Nonamaker and Mel Konecoff, associate editors. Subscription rates: Each of six sectional editions (New England, New York State, Philadelphia— Washington, Southern, Mideast, Midwest— Western): one year, $2; two years, $3.50; three years, $5. General edition: one year, $7.50 in U. S. and possessions, $10 in Canada and Pan-American countries, $15 in all other countries. Address editorial and business correspondence to the publishing office, 1225 Vine Street, Philadelphia 7, Pennsylvania.